BADUNG, Bali – The viral Bali money changer theft case, in which a foreign man was caught by locals in Kuta for stealing hundreds of millions of rupiah, has taken a shocking turn. Police revealed the suspect was not acting alone but was part of a duo: Taccoddin Fazil Oglu Tajddin (30) from Azerbaijan and Evgeniy Viktorovich Pak (33) from Uzbekistan.

Kuta Police Chief Commissioner Agus Riwayanto Diputra said the two entered Bali in April 2025, initially as tourists, before planning violent robberies targeting money changers. “They used their passports to gain the victims’ trust and pretended to be legitimate clients,” Agus said on Thursday (July 31).

The scheme involved Taccoddin posing as a Polish tourist named Borys Andrezej Musielak. He contacted money changers via Telegram, requesting in-villa currency exchange for crypto assets worth US$10,000–20,000. Once the money changers arrived, Evgeniy appeared, claiming to be an Interpol officer, before attacking and choking the victims.

Their crime spree ended on July 27, when one of the victims managed to escape a villa in Tuban, Kuta, and shouted for help. A motorcyclist rammed Taccoddin as he tried to flee with the stolen cash, which spilled across the street before being collected by residents.

Evgeniy initially escaped to Ubud, Gianyar, and planned to flee to Bangkok via Ngurah Rai International Airport. He was arrested the following day, July 28.

Police confirmed the pair had previously robbed another money changer in Canggu, causing losses of Rp170 million, before their second heist in Kuta worth Rp191 million. Four money changer employees were left traumatized by the violent attacks.

Immigration officials found that Taccoddin had pasted a fake identity page inside his original passport. Both suspects had overstayed their tourist visas, which expired in June and August 2025.

The two men have been charged under Article 365 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) for violent theft, carrying a maximum penalty of nine years in prison.